Doris Bunte

Doris Bunte (July 2, 1933 – February 15, 2021) was a Massachusetts state representative and an administrator of the Boston Housing Authority. She was the first African-American woman to hold either position.

Doris Bunte
Bunte, circa 1973
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the 7th Suffolk district
In office 1973–1984
Preceded by	Franklin W. Holgate
Succeeded by	Gloria Fox
Boston Housing Authority Administrator
In office 1984–1992
Preceded by	Harry Spence
Succeeded by	David Cortiella
Personal details
Born	(1933-07-02)July 2, 1933 New York City, New York, U.S.
Died	February 15, 2021 (aged 87) Brookline, Massachusetts, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	Harvard University (MEd)

Biography

She was born on July 2, 1933, in New York City and educated in the New York City public schools.^[1]

She was a tenant activist at the Orchard Park housing project (now Orchard Gardens) in Roxbury.^[2] She was a member of the National Rent Board, the Critical Minority Affairs Committee, the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials, the National Tenants Organization, and the Citizens Housing and Planning Association.^[1]

In 1972, Bunte was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives (7th Suffolk District, Wards 8, 9 and 12), where she served for 12 years.^[2] She was the first African-American woman elected to the Massachusetts state legislature.^[3] In 1984, Mayor Raymond Flynn appointed her Administrator of the Boston Housing Authority, where she served until 1992. She was also the first BHA official who had lived in public housing.^[2][4] She was the first African-American woman to hold that position in Boston, and the first former public housing tenant to lead a public housing agency in a major city.^[3] During her career in Massachusetts politics she was known as a strong advocate for public housing.^[2] Bunte was among the three founding members of the Massachusetts Legislative Black Caucus.^[4]

Afterwards she worked at the Boston University School of Public Health and the Center for Sport in Society at Northeastern University before retiring in 2010.^[2]

She died on February 15, 2021, from cancer in her home in Brookline, Massachusetts.^[5]

Honors

In 2018, the Walnut Park Apartments were renamed the Doris Bunte Apartments.^[6]

See also

• Massachusetts House of Representatives' 9th Suffolk district
• 168th Massachusetts General Court (1973–1974)
• 169th Massachusetts General Court (1975–1976)
• 170th Massachusetts General Court (1977–1978)
• 171st Massachusetts General Court (1979–1980)
• 172nd Massachusetts General Court (1981–1982)
• 173rd Massachusetts General Court (1983–1984)